Has this election changed you in any way?

[calimary]

67. Welcome to DU, shockey80!

This election has provoked all kinds of conflicting feelings in me. There's an overriding exhilaration at the thought that one might actually live to see a woman elected President. I still find it remarkable that I lived to see an African-American President!

I feel an ongoing sense of resolve that Hillary will prevail. If I hadn't already voted, this latest email shit would not change my mind or my eagerness to vote In fact, now, it's PERSONAL. Now they've crossed the line. I feel more adamant than ever about standing behind her. Didn't think I could feel that more strongly than I did, but Trump & Comp bring that out in me.

I do also feel fear, though. I fear what the Trumpsters will do, what the teabaggers will do, what the 2nd Amendment people will do - if/when their side loses again. If WE win, that part will be scary. If THEY win, EVERYTHING will be scary! For me, that's worst of all, because if they win, winning will be seen as a validation of everything they did and said and stand for. It will tell them they were right, and reinforce all that bad behavior and anti-social violent acting out and bullying - it'll tell that side that they were right and that they did the right thing. THAT will become the campaign model. THAT will become the New Way. Because THAT's what wins. We've already seen increasing outbreaks of bullying manifesting in our schools since the rise of Trump. Teachers and administrators have reported that and studies have already shown that. It will reinforce AND reward bad behavior, and that, to me, is THE #1 biggest reason why they HAVE TO lose. And not only that, but imagine if we finally have a "president" who never bothered to release his tax returns. What precedent will THAT set as far as accountability, authenticity and transparency?

I hate to have to admit this, but I find it hard to disagree with the whole "deplorables" thing. I'm sorry. If after everything they've seen, and everything they've heard, they STILL think this sexist, racist, misogyinst, lying, thieving cretin is presidential material who will make all their dreams come true, and is in it for THEM and not for himself, they STILL trust the future of this planet to a climate change denier who has repeatedly asked "if we have nukes, why can't we use them?" then I have no hope for them. And yeah, I regard them as thoroughly deplorable. And worse.